Set in Rome across several turbulent decades, the film follows a tight-knit gang of criminals who rise from street-level delinquency to dominate organised crime in the city. Loosely inspired by real events, it traces the ambitions, rivalries, and personal loyalties of the group's leaders — known by colourful nicknames — as they forge alliances with corrupt officials and ruthless adversaries. Over time, the mounting violence and betrayals erode the bonds that once held them together, bringing each man closer to an inevitable downfall.